Honolulu BS move over BO

Honolulu is engaging in a war against the poor, the aged and abandoned, and the unfortunate; all for the benefit of a newly “conscious” moneyed class.  Those of us who live in large cities, cities with effective and vital public transportation systems, sometimes ride the bus. We recognize the importance of the bus providing affordable transportation for everyone.  The city of Honolulu has decided to  penalize hygiene.  According to local news, “Under the bill, if you or something you bring on the bus smells bad, you could be asked to get off, or be issued a police citation. That would carry a fine of up to $500, maybe even up to six months in jail.” This new measure, proposed by the city of Honolulu is really an assault on the traditional user of bus services for  promoting the service to a new “green class”  one that is turned off by the prospect of sharing a bus with those that may be unable to maintain their hygiene in a manner that we would prefer.

This is classicism repackaged as civic concern and I am ashamed that any civic institution would levy, without any compassion, such a large fine on any facet of their citizenry; especially one that could not easily afford to pay it.  Furthermore, it is taking the one method of “convenient” transportation that needs it most.  I hope that the citizens of Honolulu would reflect upon the true ramifications of this law and ensure that all citizens can depend on dependable transportation, but I am not particularly hopeful.  What do you think?

Chivalry Is Not Dead in NYC

My commute home began as usual — yet another mundane hour-long trek up to Inwood. After stopping at the grocery and paying way too much for ingredients needed to prepare a healthy meal, I boarded the “A” train with my hands filled with two grocery bags, a purse, and a tote bag. No seats were available to my dismay and I usually don’t participate in commuter musical chairs/seat wars. Yes, if a seat is available I’ll take it. But I’m not about to run an elderly woman down, in an effort to rest my bum.

So I stood gripping the handrail while tuning out my fellow commuters with my MP3 player. While standing I noticed a tall black male seated directly in front of me, about five feet away. He sported gray New Balance sneakers, navy sweatpants, an overcoat, and a navy hoodie which he wore raised. We made eye contact and I could see that his lips were moving as if he was saying something. I just assumed that dude was either talking to himself, reciting rap lyrics loudly — which many young men annoyingly do on the train, or speaking to the woman gripping her unruly child behind me. So I shrugged it off and stood in my new comfy chocolate boots listening to the new Keyshia Cole in full New York City commuter mode — zoned out or at least emitting the appearance of zoned out as we continued.

I looked in the direction of my friend in the New Balance and again he was talking but this time he was motioning something with his hands. Finally I realized that he was actually offering his seat to me. So I walked over, graciously thanked him and took his seat. He said he’d been trying to get my attention since 59th street and I just stared at him the entire time. I explained that I assumed that he was talking to himself. The black woman across from me laughed. He responded with “What? Come on? Chivalry is not dead.” So he stood near the train doors as I sat. When a seat opened up for him to sit down he sat a couple of seat from me.

As I prepared to exit the train, I dug in my purse looking for my house key mistakenly dropping a piece of paper on the floor. My friend picked it up with immediately. He got off the train a stop ahead of me. I waved good-bye and he blew me a kiss and exited the train without a word.

After not receiving my paycheck on time and my supervisor assigning me yet another menial task not in my job description, this stranger’s expressions of kindness truly lifted my spirits. Thank you again.